Phoenix has never had a dominant big man in his prime. It’s no coincidence the Suns have never won an NBA title despite reaching the Western Conference finals nine times in franchise history. It’s impossible to ignore on the 25th anniversary of the Suns’ loss to the Chicago Bulls in the 1993 NBA Finals.

“People ask me what was the biggest difference between LA and Phoenix,” former Suns owner Jerry Colangelo said during a February phone interview. “I would say 21 to 22 feet. They had three centers, and we didn’t.”

There’s no answer for a prime Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or Shaquille O’Neal.

It’s completely unfair to hit Ayton with that type of expectation – even if he said he and Devin Booker would combine to become “Shaq and Kobe 2.0” – but it illustrates how an offensively skilled post player changes everything.

That’s true even in today’s “pace and space,” 3-point-happy NBA.

The up-tempo, outside game is nice. Lots of fun. Lots of points. It even can result in lots of wins. But Suns fans know that already. Lived it with Steve Nash, Amar’e Stoudemire and Shawn Marion. Lived it before that with Tom Chambers, Eddie Johnson and Kevin Johnson.

Those guys were hard to stop. Certain centers can’t be stopped.

It would be foolish to pass on a player with that type of potential. By all indications, Ayton has it.

And if the Suns are going to start fighting for a playoff spot and moving toward championship contention, they’re going to have to buck the current trend and set a new one.

It’s foolish to try to beat Houston or Golden State by attacking their strengths. Better to develop something few others will be able to match.

Consistent, back-to-the-basket scoring provides that.

There are questions about Ayton’s defense. Those same questions exist about Bagley and Doncic.

There are questions about how much Ayton will be able to contribute right away. Those same questions exist about Bagley and Doncic.

CLOSE

Deandre Ayton talks with the media after his workout with the. Phoenix Suns.
azcentral sports

There’s the option to trade the pick. It’s worth discussing.

The Celtics traded down from No. 1 to No. 3 last year, and it worked out great. They got Jayson Tatum and a future first-rounder.

Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough worked as an assistant under Boston executive Danny Ainge. He’s savvy enough to listen to offers.

Maybe trade down a couple of slots. Get Bamba, Bagley or Doncic, plus a veteran or future picks?

Maybe trade for an established star?

Kawhi Leonard is reportedly available. He’s one of the best players in the NBA when he’s healthy. But he’s a free agent after next season and will command top dollar.

The worst-case scenario is unfathomable. Leonard could show up for a year, then leave. Meanwhile, Ayton would likely blossom into a star in San Antonio.

Karl-Anthony Towns is interesting. He, like Leonard, has proven himself to be the type of player the Suns hope their draft pick will become.

But, as with Leonard, Towns is due to make a bunch of money after next season. Should the Suns tie up a big chunk of cap space just for the guarantee of a commodity vs. the risk of Ayton?

No. Ayton isn’t risky. And he’s much cheaper for the foreseeable future.

A better move is to trade the No. 16 pick. Package it with a player, maybe Marquese Chriss or Dragan Bender, or an expiring contract, maybe Jared Dudley, and go after an established veteran.

How about Kevin Love? He could be available if Cleveland thinks LeBron James is leaving.

What about Goran Dragic? He said on a recent ESPN interview that he had a good conversation with McDonough last season and harbors no ill feelings toward the Suns, who traded him. Dragic, of course, won a European championship under newly hired Suns coach Igor Kokoskov.

Kokoskov was an assistant with the Suns when Dragic was on the roster. Dragic said on the Lowe Post podcast that he considers Kokoskov “a second dad” and called him “my hero.”

He’d fit well with the roster and would be a good deal for a mid-first-round pick.

Dragic is a good enough shooter to command space, allowing Ayton room to operate down low. He’s also versatile enough to fit with Bagley or Doncic.

Ayton is the guy. He’s a quick learner. He’s competitive. And he represents something the Suns have never had, which means he could help them compete for a prize they’ve never gotten.